Automobile heater



Feb. 1l, 1930. yA. H. BATES 1,746,985

v AUTOMOBILE HEATER Filed pril 15, 1928 2 sheets-Shea*v 1 Feb. ll, 1930. A. H. BATES AUTOMOBILE .HEATER Filed April 13. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. n i 19V Ffh l -CZ 4Z l 4f //r f3 J f4 lei 1 `17 J6 LJ' 40 a f if f@ L M Q I 27 f6 ZZ www um C/l, @La

f aww #ha @VM mme 'ifea In.. 1930 UNITED visTit'ras PATENT ALBERTI; BATES, or neutroni); rumors', AssIGNon- To Bunn nien com'rnEssIoN am@ COMPANY, or Boorman, rumors, A conronATroN oirrnnvors l AUToMoan.

i Application mea April 1s,

AThis invention relates to automobile heaters and more particularly that class which,

utilizes the heat in t-he water of the engine cooling system. I y

The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly eiiicient heater of the kindl referred to which is so designed and arranged to be so installed that circulation of heated fresh air is positively induced in the lotonneau ofthe automobile, and there is never any danger of fumes being carried in, as is the case with many heaters using the heat of the exhaust gases. t According to my invention a radiator con,

15 nected with the water, cooling system Ais mounted on' the dash and has an air supply conduit connected therewith, the said conduit in one form of my invention having the intake end thereof disposed directly-in back of the automobileradiatorv near the motor'fan 4so as to insure an induced .draft of pure fresh l air through the heater radiator, and the said conduit in anotherlform of my invention be ing supplied w-ith1 pure fresh air from the 5 same or any other suitable source'and having an electric fan operated in connection therewith to,induce the draft offresh air through the heater radiator, theratio of the amount i `of air introduced to the area ofI exposure of' the radiator in either case being such that a comfortable temperature is maintainedin the car even in the coldest weather.

Among the special features incorporated in the heater of my invention may. be enumer- IS ated the following- A 1. The provision of a heater radiator havl ing water supply and return pipes connected to the top and bottom of the radiator, respectively, and anchored tothe dash so asto form,

lo, a lrigid support f7for the radiator andjthus `a`void the necessity of, additional means for such purpose. i

2.lf1he provision jin connection with. the

' ,heater'radiatorsupported by the water sup- C5 ply and return pipes, as just indicated, of anI electrician behind thetradiator supported on bracket carried by one or both of said pipes.

3, The provision of a shroud for the back of the heater radiator connected with the air lg' supply conduit, and, in the one formv of the in the air draft through the radiator and connections 9 and 10, respectively, fo

n HEATER i928. serial No. 269,531.

invention, having the electric" fan 'disposed therein, the said shroud Ibeing open on the under side to entrain cold air from the @or t us induce air circulation in the car. e i

Y 4.1 The provision of an air valve suitably controlled'from the instrument board by an operating cable extended through the core of Athe heaterlradiator. yIf desired, I may also -provide means for regulating the opening o n l the underside of the radiatorshroud'so as to control the recirculation of air in the car.

The invention is illustrated in theaccompany-ing drawings wherein- Figure lis a section through the front end of an automobile showing one type ofinstallation of my improved heater;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through the radiator end of the device;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat similar view showing a liferent dash mounting for the heater; an Fig. 4 is a still'- further enlarged section, similar to Fig. 2, of another type of installation showing the use of an'electric fan for inducing the ldraft of fresh air through, the heater radiator. l

Similar reference numerals are applied to correspondingparts throughout the views.

Refering first to Figs. 1 and 2, the heater, briefly stated, comprises a radiator 5 having a sheet metal shroud 6 on the back thereof, an air supply` conduit 7 communicating with the shroudv and extending forwardly to an air intake funnel 8, supply and return pige hot water, and'air regulating means 11. The radiator 5 is of suitable pro ortionsand comprises a core 12, of any pre erred or standard construction, between top and bottom headers 13 and`14,respectively, forming apart of the shell thereof. The radiator is suitably covered on the exposed front thereof by an ornamental `face plate '15.: The shroud 6,

which is funnel-shaped, is fastened sutablyfa" to the back of the radiator-shell, as appears in Fig. :2, and is fastened at the" smaller end thereof to a short tube16 passed preferably freely through a hole 17 in the dash 18`. The radiator 5 may be, but is vpreferably not, part- Y.

` 29 dicated at 26 and 27. The hose 24 leads to 1y supported'by the tube 16. In the present case, as shown, the principal support for the radiator is provided by the pipes 9 and 10, which pass through holes 19 and 20, respectively, provkided in the dash 18, and are suitably clamped by nuts 21 and 22 tlreaded on the pipes on opposite sides of the dash. The

pipes 9 and 10 makel connection with the headers 13 and 14, respectively, by threading into hollow reinforcing castings 23 and'24 disposed inside 4the headers. The mounting of the radiator is, therefore, absolutely firm and does not permit any vibration and consequent rattling of the radiator when the car is in motion, nor is there any danger of water leakage ydue to joints loosening. The

pipes 9 and 10, as stated above, constitute the supply and return, pipe connectionsfor the hot water and have hoses 24 and 25, respectively, fastened thereto and clamped as 1na cock 28 screwed into a hole tapped into the motor head at the pointy Where the water is hottest. Whenthehood 29 is raised the cock 28 is easily accessible for opening and closing Athe same. The hose@ 25 taps into the `lower outlet hose connection 30 of the radiator 31, between the radiator 31 and the water pump 32. Any suitable form of connection, as represented at 33, may be employed. By reason of the connections justdesc'ribed, it will be evident that water at the highest obtainable temperature isv supplied to the radiator 5 from the motor 34 through the hose connection 24, as indicated by the small arrow, and that the water flows downwardly through the radiator and throughthe hose connection 25 back to the cooling system, as 1ndicated by the smallvarrow. In warm weather the heater may be entirely shut off by closing the cock 28. If desired, the operation of the heater may be regulated partly by regulating the opening of the cock 28. However,

.it is more practical to regulate the heater by controlling the air blast as will now be described.

The-1dr conduit 7`is in the form of Aa tube or hose fitted onto the tube 16 and clamped as indicated at 35. The said conduit extends to the front end of the motor 34where it is The air suitably supported by a clip 436. intake funnel 8', clamped to the forward end of the conduit 7, as shown at 37, is disposed immediately behind the motor fan 38 and preferably entirely within the fan circle to'l ljget the full benefit of the action of. the fan.

The funnel 8 obviouslycollects nothing but pure fresh air, uncontaminated by any fumes from- ,the motor, and this air flows through the conduit 7 to the` radiator 5, to be heated on passing therethrough into the tonneau of the car. W'hile'themajor part of the heating is due to the radiator, it should be evident that the eiciency of the heater is promoted,

at least to some degree, by reason of the fact` that the aii` used' is raised slightly above outside temperature by reason of its vpassage through the core of the radiator 31, especial y through the upper portion thereof, and also that the air, in passing through the conduit 7 to the heater, is raised in temperature to a certain extent by reason of its having to pass almost directly over the hottest part of the a fairly large opening 40 provided in the vmotor thefull length thereof. The air blast throughthe radiator 5 draws in air through lower side of the shroud 6, this air being cold 1 air dra-wnfrom the floor. The air in the car is never stagnant, therefore, but is constantly kepty in circulation, which, of course, makes for the most comfortable heating as well as the 'most healthfulcondition. The eiiiciency of the heater is such that in modcrate weather it would be'y uncomfortably Warm in the car if no means were provided for regulating the operation of the heater.

For that reason I prefer to provide a butterfly valve 41 in the tube 16 having Aa fleX-' ible wire or cable 42 attached thereto at the i inner end, as shown at 43, and having a buttonv44 mounted on the other end thereof and disposed within easy reach of the driver, suitably at some point on the instrument board 45. `A bracket 46 arranged to be clamped onto the instrument board, as indicated at 47, has a iiexible tube 48 attached thereto and extended through the core 12 of the radiator 5 to serve as a guiding conduit for the wire 42.

The operation of the heater is believed to be perfectly evident from the foregoingde- `description so that additional explanation seems unnecessary. The drawing illustrates graphically bythe use of long arrows the path of the fresh air drawn in bythe motor fan 38 through the radiator 31 and forced through the .conduit 7 forv passage through the radiator 5 into-the tonneau of the* car, and by shorter arrows how the air in the car is recirculated.

In'Fig. 3, I have shown a modified or alternative construction which has the advantage over that just described of I'iecessitating only a single hole being cut through the dash for the installation of the heater. The tube 16 passed through the hole 17 in the dash 18 is raced by the bolting ofcollars 49 and 50 onto opposite -sides of the dash. In place of the straight pipes 9 and 10 used in the other l0, respectively, similarly as shown in Fig. 2. ln this case, however, the air supply conduit Z communicating with the tube 16 may or may not be extended to a point near the motor -faii 88, as shown in Fig. 1, inasmuch as the proper air draft through the radiator 5 is insured by the operation of a fan 53 which, with its electric motor 54, is mounted within the shroud 6'.,'as`shown.' In other words, the air supply conduit may be led to any convenient ,source of supply of pure fresh air and the fan 53 will' insure the drawing in of an adequate supply of such air and the forcing of the same through the core of the radiator into the tonneau of the car. The motor 54 is shown supported by a bracket 55 clamped as by means of bolts 56 to one of the water pipe connections, in this case the pipe 10. Either one or both of the pipe connections may be used to support the motor. The pipe connections, therefore, serve a triple function, they conduct the hot' water to and from the heater radiator, support the radiator from the dash, and form a support for the electric motor 54. The motor 54 will, of course, be connected with the battery of the carin the usual way and have a suitable switch for turning the same on and oli'. The

air supply is arranged to be regulated in this case, as in the other cases, b 'the extension of a cable or wire 42 throng the core of the radiator V5 to the butterfly valve 41, the wire 42 being operated suitably from the instru# ment board, or from directly in front of the radiator if desired` In this case, as in the other cases, the under side ofthe shroud 6 has an opening 40 to permit entraining-cold air fromthe floor in the air draft through the radiator so as to induce circulation and recirculation of air in the car. A. flap valve 57, pivoted at 58, may be provided to regulate the amount of recirculation accordingly as the prevailing outdoor temperatures may dictate. or example, in `extremely cold Weather it may be found preferable to keep the butterfly valve 41 only part 'wayopen or even entirely closed, and accordin lyv` open the` valve 57 to a greater extent t an would be found desirable in warmerweather. An outstanding advantage in the use of an electric fan for inducing .the air draft as compared with relying on. the motor fan for that purpose is that the air draft willbe strongeras well as substantially uniform, and that the :operation of the heater will be attendedwith` less noise.

It is believed the forefroingdescription con,-l

veys a clear understanding'of my invention and of all of its objectsand advantages.

, While I have shown and described the invention asista plied to two specific embodimentsl i it should e understood that certain' changes in designand construction will naturally suggest themselves to those skilled in the art'to which the invention relates, as a result of the present disclosure. For that reason all legi- L tima'te modifications and adaptations coming within the spirit and scope of the invention areJ intended to be covered in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted on a suitable supporting Wall in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle, supply and return pipes having rigid connectionwith opposite ends of said radiator for conducting the heating medium to and from the same, the said connections being ample for the support of the radiator by the pipesfalone, means for fastening the pipes rigidly to the wall whereby to support the radiator on said wall, means for supplying the heating medium for pas- A `sage through the radiator by way of the suppipes having rigid connection with opposite l" ends of said radiator for conducting the heating mediumto and from the same, the said pipes constituting the sole support vfor the radiator together with the motor and fan, means for fastening the pip rigidly to the walliwhereby to support the sembly on said Wall and means for supplying the heating medium for passage throughthe radiator by way "of thefsupplyand return pipes.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the radiator comprises a core for the passage of air therethroughand headers at the opposite ends of said core communicating with the supply andQret-urn pipes for supplying and exhausting th'iheating medium from the core,

and includin .reinforcing members disposed within andsirigid with said headers and having the pipes rigidly connected therewith and in communication with the headers.

4. A device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted on a suitable supporting wallin the v tonneau of vals' an automobile or other vehicle, supplyand ref' turn pipes for conducting the heating medi#l um to and from the radiator, said pipesfhav ing connection with opposite ends' of tliii-a-jl diator and being mounted rigidly on the wall whereby'to provide support forfthe radiator,`ii 'K shroud on the back of said radiator having anair intake opening, a fan in said shroud for, forcing air through the radiator, an electric motor for'driving the fan, and a bracket borne by at least one of said pipes servingto sup. port the motor.

5. A device of the character described comel prising a radiator arranged to be mounted on a suitable supporting Wall in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle, supply and return pipes having rigid connection With opposite ends of said radiator for conducting the heating medium to and fromthe same, the said connections being ample for the support of the radiator by the pipes alone, means for fastening the pipes rigidly to the Wall Whereby to support the radiator on said Wall, a fan and electric motor for driving the saine disposed behind the radiator and arranged When operated to force air therethrough, and means borne by at least one of said pipes for supporting the motor with its fan in proper relation to the radiator.

6. A device ofthe character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted on a suitable su a ortin(T Wall in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle, supply and return pipes for conducting the heating medium to and from the radiator, said pipes having connection with opposite ends of the radiator and being mounted rigidly on the Wall whereby to provide support for the radiator, a shroud for delivering air to the back of the radiator for passage therethrough, said shroud having an air intake opening, a fan and electric motor for driving the saine disposed Within the shroud for inducing the draft of air through the radiator, and a bracket for supporting the motor carried by one of said pipes.

7 A device of the character described comprising a' radiator arranged to be mounted in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle, means whereby the radiator is heated, a shroud for the back of the radiator, and an air conduit communicating With the shroud for supplying fresh air thereto from Without the tonneau for passage through the radiator, said shroud having an opening therein to entrain air from Within the tonneau in the air said shroud having an opening through the bottom Wall thereof. to entrain cold air Afrom the iioor Within the tonneau in the air draft through the radiator whereby to induce circulation of Warm airl substantially as 4described.

9. A device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle, means whereby the radiator is heated, and ashroud for the back of the radiator disposed vsubstantially Wholly within the tonneau, said shroud having an air intake opening supplied yWith air from the outside of the' tonneau, and another air intake opening communicating With the inside of the tonneau, the former being for the supply of cold fresh air from Without the tonneau, and the latter being for the recirculation of air Within the tonneau:

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 including a manually operable valve arranged to be operated Whenever desired to regulate or shut oft the flow of air through the first mentioned opening.

11. A device as set forth in claim 9 including a manuallyoperable valve arranged to be operated Whenever vdesired to regulate or shut oif the flow of air through the first mentioned opening, and means for regulating the flow of air through the other opening, said means being arranged to be set in ditlerent positions for moreor less permanently controlling the amount of recirculation.

12. A device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted in the tonneau of an automobile oi other vehicle, means whereby the radiator is heated, a shroud for the back of the radiator, said shroud having an air intake opening communicating with the outside of the tonneau, and a. power-driven fan-disposed Within said shroud for impclling air through the radiator, said shroud having another openingon the suction side of the fan through which air is arranged to be drawn in the operation of said fan, said opening communicating with the inside'of the tonneau and causing the entraining of air from with` in the tonneau in the air draft through the radiator.

13. A device as set forth in claim 12 including a valve arranged to be manually operable at Will to regulate the flow of air through the first mentioned opening.

14. A device as set forth in claim 12 including,r a valve arranged to be manually operable at will to`- regulate the flow of air through 'the first mentioned opening, and another valve means for controlling the tloW of air throughthe other opening.

15. A device as set forth in claim l2 including adjustable means for regulating the flow of air through the last mentioned opening.

16. A -device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle, means whereby the radiator is heated, a shroud for the back of the radiator, said shroud having an opening communieating with the inside of the tonneau, and a power-driven vfan disposed Within said shroud 'for impelling air through the radiator, the shroud opening being on the suction side ofthe fan so that air is arranged to be drawn in through said opening in the operation of said fan.

17. A device as set forth in claim 16 including means for regulating the passage of air through said opening.

18. A device as set forth in claim 16 wherein the radiator is arranged to be so disposed that said shroud opening is below the point of warm air discharge whereby to induce better circulation of air in the tonneau.

19. A devicev of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted on the dash in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle, means whereby said radiator is heated, a funnel-shaped shroud for the back of the radiator, an air conduit communicating with the small end of the funnel-shaped shroud and arranged to supply air thereto for passage through the radiator, an air valve for controlling the flow of air into said shroud, said valve being of the butterfly type, and a cable having connection with the valve and extending through the core of the radiator whereby to permit the operation of said valve from the front of the radiator.

20. A device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted in the tonneau of .an automobile or other vehicle, means whereby the radiator is heated, and a shroud for the back of the radiator disposed substantially wholly within the tonneau, saidshroud having an air intake opening supplied with air rrom the outside ofthe tonneau, another air intake opening communicating with the inside of the tonneau, the

i former being for the supply of cold fresh air from without the tonneau, and the latter being for the recirculation of air within the tonneau, and means for regulating the flow of air through the last mentioned intake openlng.

21. A device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted on the dash in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle, means whereby said radiator is heated, a funnel-shaped shroud for the back of the radiator, an air conduit communicating with the small end of the funnelshaped shroud and arranged to supply air thereto for passage through the radiator, an air valve for controlling the iiow of air into said shroud, said valve being of thebutteriiy type, and a cable having connection with the valve and extending through the core of the radiator whereby to permit the operation y of said valve from the frontlof the radiator, said shroud having an opening therein' to entrain air froml within the tonneau in the air draft through the radiator for the purpose described.

\ 22. A device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted on the dash in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle, means whereby said radiator is heated, a funnel-shaped shroud for the back of the radiator, an air conduit communicat-A ing with the small end of the funnel-shaped shroud and arranged to supply air thereto for passage through the radiator, an air valve for controlling the flow of air into said shroud, said valve being of the butterfly type, a cable having connection with the valve and extending through the core of the radiator whereby to permit the operationof said valve from the front of the radiator, said shroud having an opening therein to entrain air from within the tonneau in the air draft through the radiator for the purpose described, and means for regulating the-flow of air through the last mentioned opening.

23. A device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted on the dash in the tonneau of an automobile or other vehicle. means whereby said radiator is heated, a funnel-shaped shroud for the back of the radiator, a power-driven fan in said shroud for forcing air through said radiator, an air conduit communicating with the small end of the funnel-shaped shroud 'and arranged to supply air thereto for passage through the fradiator, an air valve for ,controlling the flow of air into said shroud, said valve being of the butterfly type, and a cable having connection with the valve and extending through the core of the radiator whereby to permit the operation of said valve from the front of the radiator.

24. A device of the character described comprising a radiator arranged to be mounted on the dash in the tonneau of an automo- -1 bile or other vehicle, means whereby said radiator is heated, a funnel-shaped shroud for the back of the radiator, a power-driven fan in said shroud for forcing air through said radiator, an airV conduit communicating with the small end of the funnel-shaped shroud and arranged to supply air thereto for passage through the radiator, an air valve for controlling the flow of air into said shroud, said valve being of the butterfly type, and a cable having connection with the valve and extending through' the core of the radiator whereby to permit the operation of said valve from the front of the radiator, said shroud having an opening therein through which air is arranged to be drawn from within the tonneau into the air draft through the radiator for the purpose described.

^ -In witness of the foregoing I aiiix my signature.

ALBERT H. BATES.

' lles 

